Austin’s oldest continuously operating family business is shutting its doors after 141 years of selling pralines, chocolates and holiday treats to generations of Central Texas families.
Lammes Candies, which traces its roots to 1878, announced it is winding down all retail operations, citing “the unprecedented economic pressures and current market conditions.” The Round Rock store closed Friday, and the flagship location at 5330 Airport Blvd. in Austin is expected to remain open for a limited time to allow customers a final chance to stock up on their favorite treats, according to CultureMap Austin.
The closure caps a story inseparable from Austin history — and a fateful poker game. William Wirt Lamme arrived in Austin from St. Louis in 1878 and founded the Red Front Candy Factory on Congress Avenue. He later lost the business at the card table, and in 1885, his son, David Turner Lamme, traveled from Ohio to repurchase it for $800 and reopen it that July under the Lammes Candies name. The company has remained in the family ever since — a run of continuous operation widely described as the longest of any family business in Austin.
Lana Schmidt, vice president and fifth-generation family member, reflected on the closure’s weight. “I think we’ve built a legacy for the community,” she told Fox 7 Austin.
Lammes became known for its Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines, introduced in 1892 using pecans harvested from trees along the Colorado River, as well as its Longhorns — a chocolate-pecan-caramel confection — and seasonal chocolate-covered strawberries.
The closure comes amid a punishing stretch for the broader chocolate industry. Cocoa futures surged above $12,000 per metric ton in 2024 before losing close to 70% of that value, but the damage had already been done for many small producers. Chocolatiers are still dealing with the lagged impact of those record prices, with a higher cost of doing business being passed through to consumers even as markets ease. Small artisanal businesses in particular have faced pressure to reduce profit margins or absorb additional costs to stay competitive — a dynamic that has strained candy makers reliant on quality ingredients and walk-in retail foot traffic.
Customers took to social media to share memories of Christmas gift boxes and childhood visits. “You can’t buy the smell online,” one commenter wrote. “I suggest you walk in the door.”
The company said it plans to continue online sales while inventory lasts and intends to host pop-up shops throughout the Central Texas area during the holiday season.
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